NBA Week 20 Power Rankings

That reminds me to mention that tanking isn’t good for basketball, or any professional sports league. Ever.

I completely understand wanting to make your organization for the better, but it hurts the quality and credibility of the other parties involved. I give so much credit to Adam Silver for saying that tanking will not be tolerated and that it would be dealt with the harshest of punishments if the evidence is there. Silver is the greatest commissioner in a professional sports organization in this country. Goodell could learn a thing or two from him.

The NBA Week 20 Power Rankings are below. – Matthew Jones

(Who is better? Kevin Durant or LeBron James? That is discussed in the latest episode of “CHIRP THAT!” which can be viewed at the link below.)

2. Golden State Warriors (48-14)

The Dubs are on a nice four-game win streak, and three of those wins came via playoff teams. Golden State continues to impress on both ends, so don’t count them out just because Houston is on a roll. – Joe Morris

3. Boston Celtics (44-19)

The race for the Atlantic Division — and therefore the East’s No. 1 seed — continues to heat up, with the Raptors and Celtics going toe-to-toe for home-court advantage through the Eastern Conference Finals. Boston’s offense has exploded in the past few games en route to a four-game W streak. That momentum will be tested when the Celtics go down to Houston for a big-time Saturday matchup. – Joe Morris

4. Toronto Raptors (43-17)

The Raptors have won 90 percent of their past ten games, so it’s a bit of a head-scratcher as to why they’re so low on this list. DeMar DeRozan continues to build a compelling MVP case, with a PER of over 22. – Joe Morris

5. Minnesota Timberwolves (38-26)

Remember, the Timerbwolves were interested in Derrick Rose. Not anymore. – Matthew Jones

6. Cleveland Cavaliers (36-24)

The hype surrounding the Cleveland Cavaliers has died down a little bit now that they’ve lost a couple of games since the All-Star Break. I’m just over here trying to figure out what kind of impact Kevin Love will have when he makes his return in the next couple of weeks from his broken left hand. It’ll grab my attention more than all of those teams that are tanking will. – Matthew Jones

7. Oklahoma City Thunder (36-27)

The addition of Corey Brewer could add a nice spark off the bench for OKC, who have struggled to find much consistent scoring outside of the starting five and are still reeling from the loss of Andre Roberson. Brewer, who may be most well-known for winning a title with the Dallas Mavericks, has seen his best days pass him by, but he can still contribute to a playoff team. – Joe Morris

8. San Antonio Spurs (36-26)

The Spurs are 3-7 in their last ten games. Their past several games haven’t been great, to say the least, on the court and the sideline, with Pop getting ejected in the third quarter versus the Pelicans. Does anyone know when or if Kawhi Leonard will return this season? – Luke Dillon

9. New Orleans Pelicans (35-26)

Perhaps Anthony Davis was right. If Cousins were still playing on this team, they would make it to the NBA Finals. I say this because the Pelicans have been great as of late and have skyrocketed up the NBA Power Rankings. New Orleans might have the best offense in the league behind the Warriors. – Matthew Jones

10. Portland Trail Blazers (35-26)

Portland has had a solid stretch of victories since the All-Star Break, and I can trace this recent success all the way to CJ McCollum’s Trail Blazers record that he set back on January 31st for scoring 28 points in the 1st quarter alone. At 35-26, Portland has their best winning percentage (.574) since the 2014-15 season. Are they back? – Matthew Jones

11. Washington Wizards (36-26)

12. Philadelphia 76ers (32-27)

13. Milwaukee Bucks (33-28)

The Bucks are now 4-5 since Jabari Parker returned. I’m not going to jump to any conclusions because I think he’s a great player, but this was to be expected, especially with Giannis now being day-to-day with an eye injury. – Matthew Jones

14. Indiana Pacers (34-27)

The Pacers lost to two teams in the Tank Zone this week. I had to move them down. There was no other option. – Matthew Jones

The Pacers are coming off two straight losses, one to the Mavericks and the other one to the Hawks. They are reportedly signing Trevor Booker, who should give an extra boost to their offense. – Luke Dillon

15. Utah Jazz (31-30)

16. Denver Nuggets (33-28)

Remember, the Nuggets didn’t want Derrick Rose. – Matthew Jones

17. Los Angeles Clippers (32-27)

18. Miami Heat (32-29)

Now, the tragedy in Florida is terrible, but I think it’s lit a fire under Dwyane Wade. He’s been performing really well. Again, it sucks what happened in the Sunshine State and that all of those kids were involved, but there is some serious passion coming out of Wade when he plays as he pays homage to the victims of the shooting. – Matthew Jones

19. Charlotte Hornets (28-34)

20. Los Angeles Lakers (26-34)

21. Detroit Pistons (29-32)

22. New York Knicks (24-38)

There are pictures floating around with Kristaps Porzingis and fans. That’s all well and good, except for the fact that he’s been seen without crutches. It’s a freaking ACL team, and it’s been less than four weeks. He’s already off the crutches?! – Matthew Jones

*YOU ARE NOW ENTERING THE TANK ZONE. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK.*

23. Atlanta Hawks (19-43)

24. Brooklyn Nets (20-42)

The Nets are 1-9 in their last ten games, but they beat the Bulls, a fellow Tank Zone team, so they moved up. – Matthew Jones

25. Chicago Bulls (20-41)

I understand that we are in the Tank Zone, but I thought that it was worth mentioning that the Bulls are 2-8 since dishing out Nikola Mirotic to the Pelicans. You don’t have to take anything from that. I’m just stating the facts. – Matthew Jones

26. Dallas Mavericks (19-43)

Tankapalooza continues in the Big D, as the Mavs have lost 5 of their past 6. However, that one win, a 109-103 dub over the Pacers, may haunt Dallas, as it caused them to vault up the standings. – Joe Morris

27. Orlando Magic (18-43)

Nothing is looking bright for the Orlando Magic, entering Week 20 with 7 straight losses. Rumors are heating up surrounding Frank Vogel being shown the door sooner than later. In the meantime, Aaron Gordon will do his best to not let the Magic slip to the worst record in the NBA. – Luke Dillon

28. Phoenix Suns (18-44)

I know that the injury happened a month ago now, but my thoughts and prayers are still with Isaiah Canaan after his scary, Gordon Hayward-like injury against the Mavericks on January 31st. – Matthew Jones

29. Sacramento Kings (18-43)

I do feel bad for Joe Johnson when he got sent from the Jazz to the Kings. No one wants to be in the Tank Zone. The same thing goes from Iman Shumpert as he came from Cleveland in that three-team trade. – Matthew Jones

30. Memphis Grizzlies (18-42)

That’ll do it for the NBA Week 20 Power Rankings. What did you think of the list this week? Where would you rank these teams? Be sure to tell us about it in the comment section below. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter: @PowerRank_More, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and follow us on our Instagram page for all of the latest information from Power Rankings and More.